A senior planning official has dismissed fears that a joint study to plot development in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong will infringe on the city's autonomy.
'The conceptual study is a platform for exchanging information,' said Ling Kar-kan, deputy director of planning. 'It will not result in any new-town initiatives or large-scale building works in addition to what we have proposed before.'
Ling was responding to criticism by activists and lawmakers that the study contained few details and was not publicised. Legislators in Hong Kong and Macau have demanded that their governments consult them on the planning proposals and disclose details. Ling said the study - titled 'The Action Plan for the Bay Area of the Pearl River Estuary' - was only a summary of existing urban planning proposals separately prepared by governments in the region.
But he admitted a public consultation exercise on the proposals could have been done better.
'We seek to share experience in building our own 'liveable cities', finding ways to improve quality of life other than economic development. It's an attempt to build a brand name for the estuary area,' he said.
Since the study was launched in April, the Hong Kong government has organised only a half-day public forum, on January 29.
The study was jointly produced by authorities in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Zhongshan with the aim of improving the region's quality of life.
